Droppings catcher



Oct. 18, 1949. RE, BLAKE ETAL v 2,484,927

DBOPPINGS CATCHER Filed Nov. 27, 1946 I nz'eiitor Babe/f E; Blake. W1!fer l Tim/mas, Par/f Gmggg'e.

Patented (Jet. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DROPPINGS CA'LCHER 1Claim.

The present invention relates to structural ways and means useful as anattachment to stand-type poultry feeders and adapted to catch and retaindroppings, whereby to prevent an accumulation of same on the floor orother surface beneath and around said stand.

More specifically, the inventionhastodo with the provision of a simpleand expedient feeder stand attachment characterized by an open-top,boxlike droppings receiving box or trough, fixture means being providedfor sustaining same removably on the usual platform board of the stand.

Another object of the invention pertains to a structural assemblage ofthe above type, there being a hinged grate or grill connected with theopen top of the trough, this in a manner to permit the chickens to perchon portions of the grate, whereby to facilitate the step of properlycatching the droppings while at the same time permitting free approachand exit steps.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become morereadily apparent from the following description and the accompanyingillustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing in dotted lines portions of aso-called conventional poultry feeding stand and showing, in addition,the improved droppings catcher means applied to said stand.

Figure 2 is an edge view of one of the troughattaching and sustainingbrackets.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the same bracket.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end portion of the box ortrough and the corresponding end portion of the grate.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the trough per Figure 6 is an end view ofthe assemblage seen in Figure 1 with a portion broken away and shown insection and with the grate swung partly toward an open position.

Reference being had to the illustrative drawings, and particularly toFigure 1 thereof, it will be seen that the socalled conventional type ofpoultry feeding stand is denoted by the reference character A, the samecomprising a cellular box arrangement on a leg-supported base structure,the legs being denoted by the letters B. On both sides and below thefeed box, the structure is provided with boards or similar runways Cwhich serve as platforms on which the fowls stand while eating from thecellular pockets of said feeder A.

We found it expedient and practicable to use l l 'i'ngs catchers on bothsides of the stand and to attach same to the end portions of theplatform board C, whereby to coact with said board. A description of onesuch catcher will suffice for both and, to this end, it will be seenthat the catcher proper is in the form of a rectangular, box-like trough8, the same being of sheet metal or similar material. The front wall 9is slightly shorter than the rear wall and the end Walls l0 have theirupper edges slanting downwardly and outwardly to the approximate degreeillustrated in Figure 6. The upper edge of the front wall is bent downand upon itself, as at I I, to provide a reinforcing lip. The trough isof a length substantially commensurate with the length of the platformboard C and has its end portions fitting removably in U-shaped portionsl2 of the end attaching brackets. Each bracket has an attaching lug [3which is bolted, screwed, or otherwise fastened to the end portion ofthe board C.

In practice, we have found it expedient and practicable to providepartial covering means for the otherwise open top of the trough. Toaccomplish this, we have adopted for use an open- Work or grill-likegrating, the same being denoted by the numeral M. It constitutes anopenwork closure for the open top of the trough and fits down on the topas shown in the drawings. It is hingedly connected, as at I5, to hingingleaves 16 which are suitably fastened to adjacent edge portions of theboard 0. This closure l4 may be swung open and the box H3 bodily removedfrom the suspension brackets or fixtures I 2 for cleaning the collectedcontents from the box it). In large boxes, say six to eight feet long,the box is rigidly secured in said fixtures and is cleaned out with ashovel or hoe.

Briefly, the invention comprises a pair of U- shaped end fixturesattached to end portions of the board or plank C, an elongated box withits end portions fitting removabl in the saddle-like fixtures, and agrill-like grating forming roosting means for the fowls, while, at thesame time, permitting the droppings to be satisfactorily collected.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of theconstruction, operation and advantages of the device will be quiteapparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description isaccordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even 3 though we have herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of our-invention that the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and within the scope of the appendedclaim.

We claim:

In a structural assemblage of the class described, in combination, apoultry feeder of a substantially conventional stand-type comprising astand structure, an open top feed box mounted thereon, and a horizontalboard associated with said box and constituting a combined runway andpoultry roost; a U-shaped bracket situated at each end of said board,the end portions of the respective brackets adjacent to said boardhaving horizontal attaching lugs, said lugs being secured transverselyto end portions of said board; an open top box having end portionssaddled and thus seated removably in and embraced by the respectiveU-shaped brackets; and a grilllike grating closing the open top of saidbox and 4 having hinges connected with said horizontal board.

ROBERT E. BLAKE. PAUL GRANGE. WALTER. L. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,375,573 Dennis Apr. 19, 19211,656,122 Lord Jan. 10, 1928 15 1,871,804 McGrew Aug. 16, 1932 2,213,153Warfel Aug. 27, 1940 2,291,686 Bray Aug. 4, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 20Number Country Date 376,490 Germany May 29, 1923

